Rabbits as Easter Gifts For Immediate Release March 28, 2006 As Easter approaches, many parents can’t resist the temptation to buy their child a real live “Easter bunny”. Weeks after Easter, a child often loses interest in the rabbit and by that time the parents have realized that they vastly underestimated the amount of care that bunnies require. Typically, the bunnies are dumped at the shelter, or simply set free outdoors, where they will likely starve or be killed by predators. The House Rabbit Network would like to make sure all parents know that a live rabbit given to a child for Easter is never a good idea. If your kids are begging for an “Easter bunny,” you should consider the responsibilities of being a rabbit owner. Rabbits must be spayed or neutered for behavioral and medical reasons. A rabbit spay or neuter generally costs over $150. Bunnies typically live 8-10 years, and you should be able to commit to owning the rabbit for their entire life. Being that they are prey animals, rabbits usually dislike being picked up, held or cuddled. Younger children can also pose a danger to rabbits; a bunny’s fragile spine can break if accidentally dropped. A pet rabbit can thrive in an indoor home, but cannot remain confined to his or her cage all day. A rabbit running around your home requires that your bunny be litter box trained, something that will take time and patience. Bunny-proofing your home so that your rabbit does not get injured by chewing on wires is also important. Rabbits can make wonderful, rewarding pets for the right home, but you must understand what you are getting into first. If you decide that you do want a bunny for your family, please do your research. You and your family should probably wait until after Easter to be sure that you do truly want a rabbit. If you do decide on a rabbit, try to get one from a shelter or rescue group. You will be teaching your children the value of rescuing a life. The House Rabbit Network does adopt rabbits to homes with children, but the parents must be genuinely interested in having a bunny and agree to take primary responsibility. For general information on rabbit care, please read our “Bunny Basics” article found on our website www.rabbitnetwork.org. If you are ready to adopt rabbit, check out the listings of adoptable rabbits on the website and call us at 781-431-1211. The House Rabbit Network is a Massachusetts-based 501 ©3 non-profit, all-volunteer organization. We are dedicated to saving and adopting out unwanted bunnies and educating the public about rabbits. We can always use more volunteers! Donations of any amount are always welcome and are used to support our efforts to find loving, forever homes for each and every bunny. Thank you for your continued support.

###

Suggest this page to a friend!